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080398 CC WS Min ,. . . . CITY OF SHOREWOOD CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MEETING MONDAY, AUGUST 3, 1998 COUNCIL CHAMBERS 5755 COUNTRY CLUB ROAD 7:00 P.M. MINUTES 1. CONVENE CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION Mayor Dahlberg called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. A. Roll Call Present: Mayor Dahlberg; Councilmembers O'Neill and Garfunkel; Planning Director Brad Nielsen. Absent: Councilmembers Stover and Champa; Administrator Hurm B. Review Agenda Mayor Dahlberg reviewed the Agenda for August 3, 1998. The agenda was approved as submitted. 2. DISCUSSION ON POLICY SURVEY QUESTIONS The Council reviewed and discussed a draft of the Policy Survey which was prepared by Decision Resources. Bill Morris and Diane Traxler of Decision Resources were in attendance to discuss the proposed survey. Councilmember Garfunkel noted a Parks survey was just recently completed and did not feel questions related to parks would need to be included. Mayor Dahlberg noted his agreement. With respect to Questions 36 through 40, Mayor Dahlberg felt, as a policy maker, the question is whether these items should be involuntary. He stated his belief the crucial policy questions revolve around whether residents would be in favor of forcing a particular policy on a neighborhood which is opposed to it and he requested questions be included relative to this. Councilmember Garfunkel stated another issue would be whether residents are willing to pay for a particular policy in order to have it implemented. Ms. Traxler questioned whether there are feasibility issues. Mayor Dahlberg did not feel there is an all or nothing position and explained the current water system is voluntary and the Council supports neighborhoods which come in with petitions for watermain extension. Councilmember Garfunkel commented with respect to Question No. 3 the answer can be very subjective in that a person's view of their quality of life could fluctuate from day to day. Mayor Dahlberg recalled this particular question was asked on the park survey and questioned whether it needs to be asked again. Ms. Traxler will review this and if it was included in the park survey, it will be deleted from this one. Mr. Morris noted this question was used in another city and was followed up with another question relative to what change or improvement could be made by the City to raise the quality of life from whatever their response had been, for example, good to excellent or fair to good. Ms. Traxler stated a draft question will be included in the next survey for the Council's review. f ~ . . . c -' CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MEETING MINUTES AUGUST 3, 1998 - PAGE 2 Ms. Traxler requested the removal of Question No.6 given Question No.5 which she felt to be more quantitative to what the Council is looking for. Mayor Dahlberg reviewed Question No. 5 and suggested asking a measure of importance to determine how important this issue is to the respondent. Mr. Morris suggested asking the respondent what percentage of their property taxes go to the City. He explained this will demonstrate their perception of how their property taxes are distributed. The caller will then be able to inform the respondent the percentage of their property taxes which actually go to the City. This is then followed up with Question No.7 which is a comparison with nearby suburban areas. Ms. Traxler noted most residents in suburban areas greatly over estimate the City's share of the property taxes and greatly under estimate the school district's share. With respect to Question Nos. 9 through 17, Councilmember Garfunkel questioned how, for example, a determination will be able to be made relative to street lights and whether the respondent feels there is insufficient or excessive lighting. Ms. Traxler suggested a follow up question in the event a respondent answers "fair" to a particular item. Councilmember O'Neill suggested adding "traffic control" to this list. Ms. Traxler felt perhaps this should be handled as a separate question since this is a current issue in the City. Mr. Morris suggested asking whether there are concerns relative to traffic control such as speed, automobiles and stop signs. Mr. Morris suggested either deleting Question No. 18 or, if it is to be included, asking a follow up question to ascertain why the respondent feels the way they answered. Councilmember Garfunkel would like to know the residents' perception of their ability to come forward and voice their opinions and the reception they receive from the City. Ms. Traxler pointed out Question No. 19 will be cross tabulated with Question No. 20 and this will provide information to determine whether those who are most unhappy with the City are also the least knowledgeable about the City or whether the reverse is true. Councilmember Garfunkel noted it is anticipated this survey will be completed post election. He felt if a survey of this type were to be completed in a non-election year, it would allow for corrective action to be taken by the Council. Ms. Traxler suggested an article be included in the newsletter notifying residents a survey is being completed and letting them know Decision Resources has been retained to assess general attitudes relative to policy issues in the city. They should also be informed telephone numbers are randomly selected and then asked to cooperate should they be one of the households which is called. She stated this will make for a smoother survey process. With respect to Question No. 26, "parks and recreation" and "code enforcement office" will be deleted and "information desk" will be changed to reflect "general information desk." In reviewing Question No. 33, Mr. Morris stated he will contact NSP to determine whether there is an estimated amount which could be inserted in this question. With respect to Question No. 37, Mayor Dahlberg remarked while a resident may be in favor of senior housing, it is important to determine whether or not they would be in favor of forcing senior housing on a neighborhood which is strongly opposed to it. . . . f CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MEETING MINUTES AUGUST 3, 1998 - PAGE 3 Councilmember O'Neill stated he would like Question No. 41 changed to reflect, "such as affordable housing, senior housing, etc." A follow up question could then be asked whether the respondent would favor imposing this on a neighborhood which is overwhelmingly opposed to it. Councilmember O'Neill questioned the need to include questions relative to snowmobiles given the recent survey and report of the Snowmobile Task Force. Mayor Dahlberg noted his agreement and suggested those questions be deleted. Councilmember Garfunkel questioned at what point the snowmobile issue should be revisited. Ms. Traxler suggested asking residents their opinion relative to the recommendation of the Snowmobile Task Force. Councilmember O'Neill felt this would be a more pertinent question. It was agreed the questions relative to snowmobiles could be included in future surveys, however, given the recent survey and Snowmobile Task Force report, it was agreed these questions should be deleted from this particular survey. It was the consensus of the Council to delete Question No. 46 given crime has not been a significant issue in the City. Mayor Dahlberg suggested relative to Question No. 47, cross tabbing residents who currently have city water with whether they like or dislike it. Councilmember Garfunkel suggested the following questions: 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) Do you have city water? If not, do you want it? If you have city water, are you satisfied with it? Are you willing to pay the cost to have city water? Are you willing to force your neighbors to pay the cost in order for you to have city water? Mayor Dahlberg felt Question No. 50 could be deleted given the fact water bonds support the municipal water system. Councilmember Garfunkel noted his agreement. Mayor Dahlberg felt Question Nos. 51, 52 and 53 could be deleted in light of the recent park survey which was completed. With respect to a bond referendum, Councilmember O'Neill suggested the question, "Would you support a bond referendum to obtain green space and retain it in its natural state?" Mr. Morris will include a question relative to how much a resident would be willing to have their property taxes increase in order to obtain this green space. Councilmember O'Neill asked that a provision be included in the survey requesting suggestions for renaming the newsletter. Mayor Dahlberg stated he supports asking residents about their use of the cable access channel. He would like to include a question relative to the respondent's satisfaction or dissatisfaction with their cable service. Councilmember Garfunkel suggested rewording Question No. 65 to ask whether the respondent owns a home computer and, if so, whether they use services such as the Internet, e-mail and whether they utilize the City's web site. . ' . . . CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MEETING MINUTES AUGUST 3, 1998 . PAGE 4 Councilmember O'Neill suggested including a question relative to whether the respondent would be interested in receiving e-mails from the City providing them with pertinent City information. With respect to communication, Mayor Dahlberg felt a major goal would be to send information from City Hall to neighborhood associations where it can be circulated throughout the neighborhood to residents without e-mail. Mr. Morris stated Question No. 74 (b) will be included in the next draft in the event the respondent owns their home so the value can be ascertained for purposes of cross tabbing. Ms. Traxler stated a revised survey will be submitted to the Council by the end of the month. Mayor Dahlberg requested she also submit information relative to the cost associated with conducting a survey of this type on a regular basis, such as every other year. O'Neill moved, Garfunkel seconded recessing the meeting at 8:46 p.m. Motion passed 3/0. Mayor Dahlberg reconvened the meeting at 8:55 p.m. 3. DISCUSSION ON CONDITIONAL USE PERMITS FOR HOME OCCUPATIONS Planning Director Nielsen addressed this matter. He explained there are currently 27 limited home occupation permits and 10 special home occupation permits in existence. Councilmember O'Neill raised the issue of receiving e-mails at home from the work place and inquired what would constitute an in-home business. Nielsen explained if the business being carried out at the residence is the resident's primary place of work, it would be considered an in-home business. Councilmember O'Neill pointed out an individual could work for another company and still carry out the same work at their residence. He noted this issue will need to be addressed. Councilmember O'Neill stated he is in agreement with the Planning Commission in that he does not feel it is necessary for residents simply utilizing a computer in their home or those who work one or two days at home rather than in the office to obtain a home occupation permit. Mayor Dahlberg noted his agreement that residents working at home on computers should not be required to obtain a permit as long as it does not involve customers coming to their residence. It was felt a permit would be required in a situation where there is clientele coming to the residence, the work is being performed from an accessory building or an employee is brought in to work. Councilmember O'Neill noted noise and traffic are the major concerns of adjacent neighbors when a request is brought forward for a home occupation permit. A draft amendment will be submitted to the Planning Commission for their review and consideration at their next meeting. ... .1' C . . . CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MEETING MINUTES AUGUST 3, 1998 - PAGE 5 4. ADJOURNMENT Dahlberg moved, O'Neill seconded adjourning the work session at 9:15 p.m. Motion passed 3/0. RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED, Cheryl WalIat, Recording Secretary TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc.